, The Prologe 0/ the Marchantes Tale.

Transcription

1 THE MERCHANT'S PROLOGUE, The Prologe 0/ the Marchantes Tale "Wepyng and waylyng, care and oother sorwe knowe ynogh, on even and a-moiwe," " 1214 'Quod the Marchaht, "and sodoon other mo That wedded been; hi-owe that it be so, ' For wen wocir'it faieth so with me ' have,a -wyf, the worste that may be; For thogh the feend to:'hire ycoupled were, She wolde-hym overmacche, dar wel swere What sholde yow reherce"in special 1221 Hir hye malice? She is a shrewe at al Ther is a long and large difference Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience And of my wyf the passyng crueltee 1225, Were unbounden, also moot thee, wolde nevere eft comen in the snare We wedded men lyven in sorwe and care Assaye whoso wole, and he shal fynde That seye sooth, by Seint Thomas of Ynde, 1220 overmacche: outmatch, defeat 1222 at 1: in every way 1226 unbounden: free (of marriage) ~~ 1230 s"int Thomas of Y nde: St, Thomas,of ndia (the Apostle)

2 154 THE CANTERBURY TAL1lS [V (E) V (E) ] THE MERCHANT'S TALE 155 As for the moore part -, sey nat ale 1231 God shilde that itsholde~,so ' bifalle! "A, goode sire Hoost, have ywedded bee Thise monthes rwo, and moore nat, pardee; And yet, trowe, he that al his yve 1235 Wyflees hath been, though that men,wolde him ryve Unto the herte, ne koude in no manere Whiloni ther was 'dwellynge in Lumbardye A worthy knyght, that born was of Pavye, 1246 n which he yved in greet prosperitee; And sixty yeer a wyflees man was hee, And folwed ay his bodily delyt On wommen, ther as was his appetyt, 1250 ' As doon thise 'fooles that been seculeer And whan that he was passed sixty yeet, Were it for hoolynesse or for dotage kan nat seye, but swich a greet corage 1254 Hadde this knyght to beeri'a'wedded man That day and nyght he dooth al that he kan T'espien where he myghte wedded' be, Preyinge oure Lord to graunten him that he Mighte onesknowe of thilke?lisfujlyf That is birwixe an housbonde and his wyf, And for to yve under that,hooly boond 1261 With wh{ch that first Gc)(Lman and womman bond - " Noon oother'lyf,': seyde he, "isworth'a bene, For wedlok is so' esy and so derie, That in this world it is a paradys,,' 1265 ' Thus seyde this olde knyght, that was so wys ' And certeinly" as sooth as Gocris,kyng, To take a wyf it is a glorious,~hyng, ' And namely whan a man is oold and ioor; " 1231 moore part: greater part, majority 1236 ryve: stab, pierce 1237 in no maneee: in no way 124~ Lumbardye: Lombardy 1246 Pavye: Pavia 1249 delyt: pleasure desire 1251 seculeer: of che laity (?) 1262 bond: bound 1269 hoor: white-haired THE MERCHANT'S TALE Tellen,so muchel sorwe as now heere Koude tellen of my wyves cursednesse!" "Now," quodloure Hoost, "Marchaunt, so God yow,blesse, 1240 Syn ye so muchel knowen of that art Ful hertely pray yow telle us part:" "Gladly," quod he, "but of myn owene soore, For soory herte, telle may namoore" Heere biiynneth, the Marchantes Tale'--," ' Thanne' is a 'wyf the fruyt 'of his tresor 1270 Thanne sholde he take a yong wyf and a feir, On which he myghte engendren hym an heir, And lede his yf in joye and in solas, Where as thise bacheleris synge "alias," Whan that they fyn-den any adversitee 1275 n love, which nys but childyssh vanytee And trewely' it sit wel to be so, That bacheleris have often peyne and wo;,' On brotel ground they buylde, and brotelnesse, / ; They [r nde whan they wene sikernesse 1280 They yve but as a bryd or as a beest, n libenee and under noon arreest, Ther as a wedded man in his estaat Lyveth,a yf blisful,and ordinaat Under this yok of mariage ybounde 1285 Wel mayhi,s lh~ne! 1J joy and,blisse habounde, For who kan beso buxom as a wyf? ',- Who is so trewe, and eek so ententyf, To kepe hym, ':sykand hool, as) s'his make? For wele or wo she wole lym,nat forsake; 1290 She nys nat wery :hyrruo'loveand serye, Though that he ye;!)e,dre~e ubhe sterve: 'And yet somme clerkes seyn it nys nat so, Of whiche he Theofraste is oon of tho 1270 fruyt: me best part 1277 sit wel: -is fitring well suits 1279 brotel:-britde, insecure 1280 wene sikernesse: expect safety, security 1282 arreest: restraint ordinaat: orderly 1287 buxom: obedient 1288 ententyf: eager, diligent '1289 make: mate 1292 bedrede: bedridden 1294 Theofraste: Theophrasrus, author of the Go/~m Book-oi; - Mamagt, a tract attacking marriage What force though Theofraste liste lye? 1295 "Ne take no wyf;" quod he, "for housbondrye, As for to spare in,houshold thy dispence A trewe servant dooth moore diligence Thy good to kepe than thyn owene wyf, For she wol clayme half part al hir yf 1300 And if thou be syk, so God me save, Thy verray freendes, or a trewe knave, Wol kepe thee' bet than she that waiteth ay After thy good and hath doon many a day And if thou take a wyf unto thyn hoold 1305 Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold" This sentence, and an hundred thynges worse, Writeth' this man, ther God his bones corse! But take no kep of al swich vanytee; Deffie Theofraste, and herke me 1310 A wyf is Goddes yifte verraily; Ale othere manere yiftes hardily, As londes, rentes, pasture, or' commune, Or moebles - alle been yiftes of FortUne' That passen as a shad we upon a wal 1315 But drede nat, if pleynly speke shal: A wyf wollaste, and in thyn hous endure, Wellenger than thee list, paraventure Mariage is :a ful greet sacrement He which that hath no wyf, holde hym shent; He yveth helplees and al desolat speke of folk in seculer estaat And herke why - sey nat this for noght That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght The hye God, whan he, hadde Adam maked, And saugh him al allone, 'bely-naked, 1326 God of his gretegoodnesse seyde than, "Lat us now make -an helpe' unto this man Lyk to hymself'; arid thanncr he made him Eve Heere may ye se; and l)eerby may ye preve, That wyf is mannes helpe and his confon, 1331 His paradys terrestre, and his disport So buxom and so vertuous is she, They moste nedes yve in unitee 1334 o flessh they been, and 0 fleesh, as gesse, Hath but oon hene, in wele and in distresse 1295 What force: what does it matter 1296 housbondrye: domestic economy 1297 spare: be sparing dispence: expenditures 1302 knave: male servant 1306 cokewold: cuckold 1308 ther Le_, may (btr is nof' translated; it' is-used to introduce the subjunctive) 1312 hardily: certainly 1313 commune: right to use land held in common 1314 moebles: personal property 1"316 drede: doubt 1320 shent: ruined '32 bely-naked:,tark naked 1332 paradys terrestre: earthly paradise 1333 buxom: obedient A wyf! a, Seinte, Marie, benedicite! How myghte a man han any adversitee That hath a wyf? Cenes, kan nat seye The blisse which that is bitwixe hem rweye Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thynke 1341 f he be povre, she helpeth hym to swynke; She kepeth his good, and wasteth never a deel; Al that hire housbonde lust, hire liketh weel; She seith nat ones "nay," whan he seith "ye" 1345 "Do this," seith he; "A redy, sire," seith she o blisful ordre of wedlok precious, Thou art so murye, and eek so vertuous, And so commended and appreved eek That every man that halt hym worth a leek Upon his bare knees oughte al his yf 1351 Thanken his God that hym hath sent a wyf, Or elles preye to God hym for to sende A wyf to laste unto his yves ende For thanne his yf is set in sikernesse; 1355 He may nat be deceyved, as gesse, So that he werke after his wyves reed Thanne may he boldely beren up his heed, They been so trewe and therwithal so wyse; For which, if thou wolt werken as the wy6e, Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede 1361 Lo, how thatjacob, as thise clerkes rede, By good conseil of his mooder Rebekke, Boond thekydes skyn aboute his nekke, For which his fadres benyson he wan 136S Lo Judith, as the storie eek telle kan, By wys conseil she Goddes peple kepte, And slow hym Olofernus, whil he slepte Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she Saved hir housbonde Nabal whan that he 1370 Sholde han be slayn; and looke, Ester also By good conseil delyvered out of wo The peple of God, and made hym Mardochee Of Assuere enhaunced for to be Ther nys no thyng in gree superlatyf, 1375 As seith Senek, above an humble wyf never a deel: not a bit, not a[ all 1J49 appceved: tested, proven 1361 cede: advise 1362 cede: tell, advise 1363 Rebekke: Rebecca, who counselled Jacob to trick his father, hue, inm blessing him 1365 henyson: blessing 1368 Olofemus: Holofemes, slain by Judim; for me Story see MkT Vl 2~~ 1-74, 1369 Abigayl: Abigail saved Nabal from the wrath of King Dovid (cf Vl00) 1371 Ester: Esther, who saved her unde Mo rdecai (Mardorhtt ) ~~:4 h:~=~~~;r ~~!'r:~!~~~ husband Ahasuerus (AsJutrt) 1375 in_gree superlatyf: superior (in degree of virtue) 1376 Senek: Seneca

3 T 156 THE CANTERBl1RY 'TALES Suffre thy wyves tonge, 'as Catoun bit; She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren it, And yet she wole obeye of curreisye; A wyf is kepere' of thyn housbondrye; 1380 We! may the sike man biwaille and 'wepe, Ther as ther nys no wyf the hous to kepe warne thee, if wisely thou' wolt wirche, Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loved his chirche f thou lovest thyself, thou lovest thy wyf; No man hateth his flessh, but in his yf 1386 He fostreth it, and therfore bidde thee Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt nevere thee Housbonde and wyf, what so men jape or pleye, Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 1390 They been so knyt ther may noon harm bityde, And namely upon the wyves syde For which this Januarie, of whom 1 tolde, Considered hath, inwith his dayes;olde, The lusty yf, the verruous quyete, 1395 That is in mariage hony-sweete, And for his freendes on a 'day he 'sente, To tellen hem th 'effect of his' entente With face sad his tale he hath hem toold He seyde, "Freendes, amhoor and oold, 1400 And almoost, God woot, on my pittes brynke; Upon my soule somwhat moste thynke have my body folily despended; Blessed be God that it shal been-amended! 1405 For wol be, cerreyn,- a wedded man', And that anoon in al the haste kan Unto som mayde fair and tendre of age, prey yow, shapeth foe my mariage A sodeynly, for ' wol nat abyde; And wol fonde t'espien, on my syde, 1410 To whom may be wedded hastily But forasmuche as ye been mo than, Ye shullen rather swich a thyng espyen Than, and where me best were to allyen "But 0 thyng warne yow, my freendes deer-e, wol noon oold wyf han in no manere 1416 She sh1l1 nat passe rwenty yeer, certayn; Oold fissh and yong flessh wolde have fayn ~~:;a~~~e: endure, forbear Catoun: Cam bit = biddtlh, 1389 what so: however much 1390 worldly: lay, secular siker: sure, safe 1391 knyt: united ' ,,,'4 syde: behalf inwith: in th'effect: the substance pines brynke: brink of the pit (of death ) folily despended: foolishly wasted fonde ('espien: try to discover allyen: ally myself, marry [V le) 1377-'1459 Bet is," quod he; f: a' pykthancapykerel, And bet than old boef inhe tend re veel1420 wol no' womman; thritty yeer of age; : t is but bene-straw' and,' greet forage And eek thise 01de wydwes', God it woot, They konne so muche! 'craft' On Wades ' boot, So muchel 'bfoken harm, whancthat hem leste, 1425 That with hem 'sholde nevere yve in reste For sondry scoles maken rsotile C1erkis; Womman of manye' scoles half a c1erk is But cerreynly, 'a yong thyng may men gye, Right as :men may 'Warm wex with handes plye Wherfore r sey yow pleynly, in a' clause, 1431 wol noon oold wyfhan right for this cause ' For if so werej'!hadde swichmyschaunce That in hire ne koude han:no plesaiince, Thanne sholde:llede,my-c lyf--inavoutrye 1435 And gostreight to the deve! whan dye Ne children sholde l none' upon hire' geten; Yet were me levere houndes' had me eten ;' Than that:myn heritilge, sholpe falle n straunge hand,and' thii'helle Yow a1le dote nat;r:lwoot, the cause ;why 1441 Men sholde wedde, ariddorrhermoore woot Ther speketh many a' man of mariage That woot namoore of it, than' woot my page For whiche causes mari sholde take a wyl 1445 f-he ne may nadyven' chaast his yf, Take ' hym' a' -wyfwith greet devoc,ioun, By cause of leveful procreacioun Of children to th'onour olgod above And nat oonly for paramour Or: love; ' 1450 And for theysholde leccherye eschue, And yelde ' hir dette whan that it is due; Or for that ech,of hem sholde he!pen oother n meschief, as a suster shal the brother, And yve in chastitee ful holily 1455 But sires, by youre leve, that am nat ' For - God be thanked! - dar make-avaunt : feele my ymes stark and suflisaunt To do a1; that a man bilongeth to;, 1419 pykerel: young pike 1420 boef: beef veej: veal 1422 bene-straw: d~ed beanstal~ greet fprage: coarse fodder 1424 Wades boot: boat of Wade~ an obscure legendary figure,, ' perhaps associated with deception 1"'25 1(1162 ywoxen: grown 1466 laurer: laurel, an evergreen wex: wax plye: bend mod ' 1435 avoutr'ye: adultery ~~!~ fee::f~l~:!ful ' dettc: the marimi debt, obligation ''''55 in chastitee: under a vow to abstain from sex stack: strong see PanT X940 for to seqe: to' be seen,,, Placebo: " 1 shall please" (Psalm 114,9) woot myse!ven,' best what: may do; 1460 Though,, be:hoor, fare as dooth a tree That blosmeth er that fcuyt ywoxen bee; And blosmy tree nys neithef qrye ne deed; feele me nowhere hoor but on myn heed; Myn herte and alle my, lymes been as grene As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene 1466 And syn that ye han herd ai, myn entente, prey 'Yow to my wyl ye 'wole assente" Diverse inen diversely: hym tolde Of mariage manye ensampks olde 1470 Somme 'blamed it, somme preysed it, cerreyn; But atte laste, shortly for to seyn, As a day falleth altercacioun Birwixen freendes in disputisoun, Ther fil a stryf birwixe his bretheren two, 1475 Of whicl;le that oon was c1eped Placebo; Justinus soothly,called 'was that oother Placebo seyde, "0 Januarie,brother, Ful -litel nede, hadde ye;,my lord,so deere, Conseil to axe:ofany that is heere, ~,: OT480 But that ye been so ful of sapience That yow ne liketh,, for youre,heighepcudence,to weyven fto the word of Salomon This word seyde he unto us everychon: 'Wirk alje-thyng by conseil, ~ 'thus seyde he, 'And thanne shaltow 'nat repentethee' 1486 But' th~ugh thatcsalomori spak swich a word, " Myn 'owene deere brother, and my lord, So wysly GoP my soule' brynge at reste, holde youre owene conseil: is the beste;' 1490 For, brother myn, of me' taakahis motyf: have now been a court-man al my yf, ~ And God 'it woot, though" unworthy be, have stonden in ful greet degree 1495 Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; Yet hadde 'nevere with noon of hem debaat nevere hem contraried, trewely; woot ;wel that my,lord kan moore than,," With that he seith, holde it ferme and stable; seye the same, or e1les thyng semblable 1500 A ful greet' fool is any conseillour That serveth 'liny lord of heigh honour, That dar presume, orelles then ken it, That his conseil sholde passe his lordes wit Nay, lordes been no fooles, by my/ay! 1505 So muchel broken harm: do so much harm, make such mischief 1427 sothe: subde clever 1429 gye: guide 1430 THE MERCHANT'S TALE V E) ) to : engage in intercourse;,' 1477 Justious: 'the JUSt one" 1483 weyven fro: depart from 1c91 ~otyf: i~~,,advice,, 92 court man: courtier : : holde it ferme and stable: view it as unshakably true 1500 semblable: similar 15'7 Ye han yourese!ven shewed heer to-day So' heigh: sentenc:;e, so holily and weel, That consente and conferme everydeel Youre wordes"alleand youre' opinioun, By God; ther nys no man inal this toun, 1510 :N,e in Ytaille, that koude bet han sayd! Ctist halt hym of this conseil ful wel apayd And trewely, it is an heigh corage Of any man that stapen is ' in age To take a yong wyf; by my fader kyn, 1515 Y oure herre hangeth on a joly pyn! Dooth now in -this matiere right as yow leste, For finally J holde it for the beste" Justinus, that aystille sat and herde, 1519 Right in this wise he' to Placebo answerde: "Now, brother myn, be pacient, preye, Syn ye han' seyd'; and herkneth whar-l seye Senek, amonges othere wordes wyse, Seith that a man oghte hym right wel avyse To whom he yeveth his lond or his catej 1525 And syn oghte avyse' me,right we] To whom yeve my ;good awey fro me, We! muchel moore oghte avysed be To whomt yeve my body for alwey; warne yow wel; it is no chi des pley 1530 To take a wyi withouten avysement Men moste enquere - this, is myn assentwher shebe,wys, or 'sobre, or dronkelewe, Or proud; or elles ootherweys a shrewe, A chidestere, or wastour of thy good, 1535 Or riche, or poore, or, e1les mannyssh wood A be it so- that no manfynden shal Noon in this world that trottethhool in ai, Ne man, ne beest, swich as men koude' devyse; Bucl}athelees it oghte ynough suflise 1540 With any wyf, if so were that she hadde Mo goode thewes than-hire vices badde; And al' this axeth leyser for t'enquere For, God it woot,, have wept many a teere Ful pryvely, syn,have had a wyf 1545 Preyse c whoso wole a wedded mannes yf, Cerrein- fynde in it' but cost and care And observances, of alle, blisses bare 1507 heigh sentence: good judgment 1512 halt hym = boldtlb bym, considers himself ful wel apayd: very well satisfied 1513 an heigh eoeage: a bold act 151'" stapen is in age: is advanced (literally Jltpptd) in years 1516 hangeth on a joly pyn: is lively merry ' 1531 avysement: deliberation 1532 assent: opinion _ 1533 dronkelewe: addicred to drink, habitually drunk ~~~: ~~~:~ts~b~~~!t:nte~~~~ m':n~::;~~[(r?) 1538 trotteth!- hool in al: trots perfectly; is perfect in everything 15 2 thewes: personal traits 15ca observances: duties

4 158 THE CANTERBURY TALES [V (El V le) ] THE MERCHANT'S TALE 159 And yet, God woot, my neighebores aboute, And namely of wommen many a route, 1550 Seyn that have the mooste stedefast wyf, And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf; But woot best where wryngeth me my shoo Ye mowe, for me, right as yow liketh do; A vyseth yow - ye been a man of age How that ye entren into mariage, And namely with a yong wyf and a fair By hym that made water, erthe, and air, The yongeste man that,is in a this route s bisy ynough to bryngen it aboute 1560 To han his wyf allone Trusteth me, Ye shul nat plesen hire fully yeres thre This is to seyn, to doon hire ful plesaunce A wyfaxeth ful many an observaunce ~ prey yow that ye becnat yvele apayd;" 1S65 "Wel," quod this ]anuarie, "and hastow ysayd? Straw for thy Senek, and for thy proverbes! counte nat a panyer ful of herbes Of scole-termes Wyser men than thow, As thou hast herd, assenteden right now 1570 To my purpos Placebo, what sey ye?" " seye it is a cursed man," quod he, ', "That letteth matrimoigne, sikery :~ And with that word they rysen sodeynly, And been assented fully that he sholde 1575 Be wedded whanne hym liste and where he wolde Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse Fro day to day ganin the soule impresse Of ]a!luarie aboute his mariage Many fair shap and many a fair visage 1580 Ther passeth thurgh his herte nyght by nyght, As whoso tooke a mirour, polisshed bryght, And sette it in a commune market-place, Thanne sholde he se fulmany a figure pace By his mirour; and in the same wyse ' Gan ]anuarie 'inwithhis thoght devyse i:~:~ Of maydens whiche that dwelten,hym bisyde He wiste nat wher-that he-myghteabyde For if that oon have beaute in hir face, Another stant so in the peples grace 1590 For hire sadnesse and hire benyngnytee 1553 wryngeth: pinches 1561 han his wyf allone: have his wife to himself 1365 yvele apayd: displea>ed 1568 panyer: Dread basket 1569 scole-termes: scholastic (philosophical) terms 1573 letteth: hinders "" _ ' - 15n Heigh fantasye:-exaggerated fancy, ima&inacion /'"CUrious bisyncsse: painstaking attention, constant thought (of this) 1578 gan impresse: made a mark became fixed 1591 sadnesse: seriousness,' That of the peple grettest voys hath she; And somme were riche and hadden badde name, But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, He atte laste apoynted hym on OOl), 1595 And leet alle othere from his herte goon, And chees hire of his owene auctoritee; For love is blyl)d alday, and may nat see, And whan that he was in his bed ybroght, He purtreyed)n his herteand in his thoght Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, 1601 Hir myddel smal, hire armes longe and sklen- dre, Hir wise governaunce, hir gentillesse, Hir wommanly, berynge, and hire sadnesse And whan that he on hire was condescended, 1605 Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended For whaithat he 'hymself concluded hadde, Bym thoughte ech oother mannes wit so badde That inpossible it were to repplye Agayn his choys; this was 'his fantasye )610 His freendes 'sente he to, at his instaunce, And preyed hem to doon hym that plesaunce, That hastily they wolden to hym come; He wolde abregge hir labour, alle and some Nedeth namoore for hym to go ne ryde; 1615 He was apoynted ther he woldeabyde Placebo cam, and eek his freendes soone; And alderfirst he bad hem alle a boone, That noon of h~m none argumentes make 1619 Agayn the purpos which that he hath take, Which purpos was plesant to God, seyde he, And verray ground of his prosperitee He seyde ther was a mayden in the toun, Whichthat of beautee 'hadde greet renoun, A wereit so she were of smal degre'e; 1625 Suffiseth hymhir yowthe and hir beautee W;hich maydei he seyde, he wolde han to his ' wyf,,' To lede in ese and hoolynesse his yf; And thanked God that he myghte han hire a; That no wight his biisse parten shal 1630 '592 voys: p~ ~ -- ' 1595 aporoted hym on: decided on 1596 othere: others 1598 aldsy: always 1602 sklendre: slender 1605 was condescended::had decided settled 1611 instaunce: request : 161<4 abregge: abridge, shonen _ ~:~: :Jde:rn~~fi:: ~;:lti!:t : boone: " ~ked a_f; vor ~:~~ ~esw-::~ 1!e:~~though smal degree: low rank 1630 parten: share And preyed hem to laboure in this nede, And shapen that he faille nat to spede; For thanne, he 'seyde, his spirit was at ese "Thanne is," quod he, "no thyng may me displese, Save 0 thyng priketh in my conscience, 1635 The which! wol reherce in youre presence " have," quod he, "herd seyd,ful yoore ago, Ther may no man han parfite blisses two This is to seye, in erthe and eek in hevene For though he kepe hym fro the synnes sevene, And eek from every branche of thilke tree, 1641 Yet is ther so parfit felicitee And so greet,ese and lust in mariage That evere am agast now in myn age That shal lede now so myrie a yf, 1""5 So delicat, withouten wo and stryf, That shal have myn hevene in erthe heere For sith that verray hevene is boght so deere With tribulacion and greet penaunce, How sholde thanne, that yve in swich plesaunce 1650 As alle wedded men doon with hi~e wyvys, Come to the blisse ther Crist eterneon yve ys? This is my drede, and ye, 'my bretheren r:weye, Assoilleth me this question, preye" ]ustinus, which that hated his folye, 1655 Answerde anon right in his jape rye; And for he wolde his longe taleabregge, He wolde noon auctoritee allegge, But seyde, " Sire, so ther be noon obstacle Oother than this, God of his hygh myracle And of his mercy may so for yow' wirche 1661 That, er ye have youre right of hooly chirche, Ye may repente of wedded mannes yf, n whicl} ye seyn th~r is no wo ne stryf And elles, God forbede but he sente 1665 A wedded man hym grace to repente Wel ofte rather,than a sengle'man! And therfore,~ s'ire -' the beste reed kan Dispeire yow nqgh,t, but have in,youre memorie, Paraunt~r she may be yourepurgatorie! ' 1670 She may be'goddes meene and Goddes whippe; 1632 shapen: arrange 16-il thilke tree: the tree of the seven' deadly sins (see ParsT X387-90), 1 delicat: pleasins 16'04 Assoilleth me this question: resolve this problem 1656 ;aperye: mockery ~:"_ 1657 abrc"gge: abricge, shbrten,658 allegge: cite, adduce 1662 right of hooly chirche: service (rite) of the Church 1665 "Goo torbede' but he sente: -God forbid that he should not send 1667 sengle: single 1671 mune: means, instrument Thanne shal youre soule up to hevene skippe Swifter than dooth an arwe out of a bowe hope to God, herafter shul ye knowe That ther nys no so greet felicitee 1675 n mariage, ne nevere mo shal bee, That yow shal lette of youre savacion, So that ye use, as skile is and reson, The lustes of youre wyf attemprely, And that ye plese hire nat to amorously, 1680 And that ye kepe yow eek from oother synne My tale is doon, for my wit is thynne Beth nat agast herof, my brother deere, But lat us waden out of this mateere The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han understonde, 1685 Of mariage, which we have on honde, Declared hath ful wel in litel space Fareth now wel God have yow in his grace" And with this word this Justyn and his brother 1689 Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of oother For whan they saughe that it moste nedes be, They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, That she, this mayden which that Mayus highte, As hastily as evere that she myghte Shal wedded be unto this ]anuarie, 1695 trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, f yow tolde of every serit and bond By which that she was feffed in his lond, Or for to herknen of hir riche array, But finally ycomen is the day 1700 That to the chirche bothe be they went For to receyve the hooly sacrement Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute his nekke, And bad hire be lyk Sarra and Rebekke n wysdom and in trouthe of mariage; 1705 And seyde his orisons, as is, usage, And croucheth hem, and bad God sholde hem blesse, And made a siker ynogh with hoolynesse, Thus been they wedded with solempnitee, And at the feeste sitteth he and she 1710 With othere worthy folk upon the deys, 1677 lette of: keep from 1678 skile: reuonable, proper 1679 attemprely: moderately 168" waden: wade, go 1692 tretee: negotiation ~:: f~~!d ~~:'e:f~ff~~~d~~ed with 1702 the hooly screment: ie, marriage Sarra and Rebekke: Sacah and Rehecca biblical exemplars of faithfulness and wisdom 1707 croucheth: makes the sign of the cross o ver 1711 deys: dais

5 160 THE CANTERBURY TALES A ful of joye'and blisse is rhe paleys, And ful of Dsrrumenrz and of viraille The moosre deymevous of a Yraille ' Biforn hem sroode insrrumenrz of swich soun Thar Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun; 1716 Ne maden nevere swich a melodye Ar every cours rhanne cam loud mynsrralcye Thar nevere tromped Joab for to heere Nor he'theodomas, -yet half so deere ' 1720 At Thebes whan the citee' was in doute Bacus the wyn hem shynketh al aboute And Venus laugheth upon every wight: For Januane was bicome hir knyght And wolde bothe assayen his corage n hbe:tee, and eek in mariage; And Wth hire fyrbrond in hire hand aboute Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the route And cerceinly, dar right we seyn this, 1725 Y meneus, that god of weddyng is, 1730 Saugh nevere his yf so myrie a wedded man Hoold t?ou thy pees, thou poete Marcian, Thatwnrest us rh at ilke weddyng murie Of hre Philologie and hym Mercurie And of the songes thar rhe Muses son~e! 1735 To smal is borhe thy penne, and eek rhy tonge, For to descryven of rhis mariage Whan rendre you the hath wedded stoupyng age, Ther is swich myrche that it may nar be writen Assayeth t youresef; rhanne may ye witen f thar lye or noon in this mariere 1741 Mayus, thar sit with so benyngne a chiere, Hre to blholde ir semed fayerye Queene Esrer looked nevere with swich an ye On Assuer, so meke a look harh she 1745 may yow nar devyse al hir beauree But rhus muche of hire beauree relle may, That she was yk the brighte morwe of May Fulfild -of alle beauree and plesaunce ' This Januarie is ravysshed in a craunce 1750 Ar every tyme he looked on hir face; 1714 deyntevous: delicious 1716 Orpheus: the legendary musician Amphioun: king of Thebes and a famous harper dccdomped: trumpeted Joab: one of David's generals who SOun e trumpets to direct his army 1720 Theodomas: the augur of the army at Thebes 1721 doute: danger 1122 Bacus: Bacchus god of wine shynkech: pours Out 1723 Venus: goddess of love 1727 fyrbcond: (orch 1730 Ymeneus: Hymen 1731 his lyf: in his life 17h3~,Maccian: Martianus Capella author of the /\am"agt P 0/ ro 0&1 and M~rmry 17"3 fayeeye: something enchancing K 7~" Ester: Esther whose meekness and beauty won the love of 108 Ahasuerus (AiJlltr) [V (E) But in his herte he gan hire to manace Thar he thatnyght in armes wolde hire streyne Harder rhan evere Parys dide' Eleyne But na~elees, yet-hadde he greer pitee 1755 Thar rhlke nyght olfenden hire moste he And thoughre, "Alias! 0 tendi-e creature' Now wolde God ye myghte'wel endure' A my corage, ir is so sharp and keene! ' am agasr ye shul it nat susr~ene 1760 Bur God forbede rhar dide a my myghr! Now wolde God thar it were 'wox,en nyght, And that the nyght wolde lasten everemo:' wolde rhar a this peple were ago" And finally he doorh al his labour 1765 As he besr myghre, savynge his ' h~nour, To hasre hem fro the mete in' subril wyse The tyme cam rhat resoun wils to ryse' And afrer rhar men daunce and drynken 'fasre And spices al aboure the hous rhey casre, 177~ And ful of Joye and blisse is every man- A ~ur a squyer, highte Damyan, WhCh carf biforn rhe knyght ful many a day He was so ravysshed on his lady May 1774 That for rhe' verray peyne' he' was ny wood Almoosr he swelte and swowned rher he stood So soore harh Venus hurt hym with hire brond' As that she bar ir daunsynge in hire hond' ' And to his bed he wente hym hastily Namoore of hym at this tyme speke, 1780 B~t there lete hym wepe ynogh and pleyne T fress~e May wol rewen on his peyne o penlous fyr, thar in rhe bedsrraw brederh' o famulier'foo, tpar his servyce bedeth! o servant craytour, false hoomly hewe, 1785 Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly untrewe God shilde us alle fibm' youre!queynra~nce! o Januarie, dronken in plesaunce' n inariage, se how' thy' Damyim, Thyn owene squiei and rhy: borne' man, 1790 Entendeth fono do thee vileynye God gra~nte ' rhee rhyn hoomly fo t'espye! For n ths world nys worse pestilence Than hoomly foo al'day in thy presence manace: menace, threaten 1753 streyne: press EJeyne: ~elen of Troy whose ravishment by Paris (Parys) caused the Trojan War (see Tr S7~3) 1759 cocage: ardor, sexual desire keene eager o :;~ ~=:t~:a:a::e~abour : takes all possible pains 1777 brond: torch ~~e:/amuher foo: enemy in one's own household ~det~: 1785 hoomly hewe: domestic servant 1786 naddre: adder, serpent 1792 hoomy fo: foe in (he household ' 1 ' 1 - V (E) ] Parfournedl)arhthe sonne his ark diurne; _ No lenger may the body of hym sojurne On th'orisonte, as in thar latitude Nighr wirh his!fiantel, rhar is derk and rude, Gan oversprede, the hemysperie aboute; For which departed is rhis us!}' route 1800 Fro Januarie, withtbat'lk on' every syde Hoom to hir houses llstily they ll'y-de, Where as they 'doon hir,thynges' as hem leste, And whan rhey,sye hir tyllle, goon to reste Soone afrer rhat, this hastif Januarie 1805 Wolde go tq bedde;:he"wolde no lenger rarye He drynketh ypocras, darree, and vernage of spices hoote r'encreessen his corage; And many a letuarie hath he Ju fyn, Swiche as the cursed monk, daun Constantyn, Harh wriren in his book De Coitu; 1811 To eren hemalle he nas no-rhyng eschu And to his privee freendes thus seyde he: "For Goddes love, as soone as it may be, Lar voyden a this hous in curteys wyse:' 1815 And they han doon righr as-he wol devyse Men drynken and rhe cravers drawe anon The bryde was:,broghr abedde as srille ascsroon; And whan the bedwas with the preesryblessed, Out of rhechambre harh every wight hym' dressed, 1820 And Januarie harh fasre in-armes take His fresshe May, his paraays," his make He lulleth-hire; he kisseth hire fulofre; Wirh thikke brustles of his berd unsofte, Lyk to\the skyn of houndfyssh ;- sharp as brere For he' was' shave a newe in his manere He rubbeth hire aboure :hir tendre face, And seyde rhus, "Alias! moor trespace To yow, my spouse, and yow greedy offende Er ryme come thar wil doun descende 1830 Bur nathelees, considererh-rhis," quod he, "Ther nys no werkman, whatsoevere he be, Thar' may borhewerkewel and hastily; This wol be-doon at leyser; parfidy 1795, Parfourned: completed ark di~rm~: daily transit from horizon to horizon 1796 sojurne: remain 1797 th'orisonte: the horizon 1799 hemysperie: hemisphere (the half of the heavens above the earth) 1801 on every syde: from al sides 1804 sye: saw 1807 ypocras, claccee: stiong spiced and sweetened wines; vernage: sweet talian white wine Vemaccia 1809 letuacie: electuary, medical mixrure 1810 Constantyn: Conscantinus Africanus (Afer),author of a work on sexual intercour~ containing recipes for aphrodisiacs 1812 eschu: averse 1815 La[ voyden: clear OUt 1817 [ravers: curtain (dividing [he room) 1825 houndfyssh: dogfish, a small shark: brere: briar THE MERCHANT'S TALE 161 t is no fors how longe that we,pleye; 1835 n crewe wedlokcoupled be we rweye, And blessed be the yok rhat we been inne, For in oure actes we mowe do no synne A man may do no" synne wirh his wyf, Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf, 1840 For we han leve to pleye us by the lawe " Thus laboureth he ril that the day gan dawe; And thanne he r,aketh a sop in fyn darree, And uprighr in his bed rhanne sineth he; 1844 Andafter that he sang ful loude and deere, And kisre his wyf, and made wantown cheere He was a coltissh, ful of ragerye, And ful of jargon as a Bekj(ed pye The slakke skyn aboute; his nekke shakerh 1849 Whil that he sang, so chaumerh he and craketh But God woot whar rhat May rhoughte in hir herce, Whan she hym saugh up sittynge in his sheere, n his nyghr-cappe,and wirh his nekke lene; She preyserh nat his pleyyng worch a bene Thanne seide he thus, "My reste wol rake; Now day is come, Lmay nojenger wake" 1856 And doun ' he leyde his heed and sleep ril pryme And afterward; whan "that he saugh his tyme, Up ryseth Januarie; but fresshe 'May 1859 Heeld hire chambre unto rhe fourthe day, AS 'usage is of wyves for the beste For every labour somryme moor han resre, Or e1les longe may he nar endure; This is to seyn, no,lyves creature, Be ir of fyssh, or' bryd, or beesr, or man 1865 Now wol speke of woful Damyan, Thar langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere; Thenore speke to hym in this manere: seye, "o sely Damyan, alias! Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas 1870 How shalrow td thy lady, fresshe May, Telle rhy wo? She wole a1wey seye nay Ee'k if rhou speke, she'wol thy wo biwreye God be rhyn helpe! kan no beme seye" This sike Damyan in Venus fyr 1875 So brennerh thar he dyerh for desyr, For which he putte his yf in aventure 1835 h is no fors: it doesn'r matter 1843 sop in fyn clarree: a bit of bread soaked in wine 1846 wancown: lecherow 1847 coltissh: frisky as a colt ragerye: wantonness 1848 jargon: charter Bekked pye: spotted magpie slakke: slack, loose 1850 chau nteth: sings crakech: croaks 1857 pcyme: the first canonical hour (part) of the day (from about 6 to 9 AM) 1870 demaunde: question 1873 biwreye: reveal 1877 in aven[urc: at risk

6 162 THE CANTERBURY TALES [V le) V le) ] THE MERCHANT'S TALE 163 No lenger myghte he in this wise endure, But prively a penner gan he borwe, Andin' a lettre wroot he al his sor:we, 1880 n manere of a compleynt or a lay, Unto his faire, fresshe lady May; And in a purs of sylk heng on his sherte He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte 1884 The moone, that at noon was thilke day That Januarie hath wedded fresshe May n two of Tawr, was into Cancre glyden; So longe hath Mayus in hir chambre abyden, :' As custume is unto thise nobles alle A bryde shal nat eten in the halle 1890 Til dayes foure, or thre dayes atte leeste, Ypassed been; thanne lat hire go to feeste The fourthe day compleet fro noon to noon, Whan that the heighe,masse was ydoon, n halle sit this Januarie and May, 1895 As fressh as is the brighte someres day And so bifel how that this goode man Remembred hym upon this Damyan, And seyde, "Seynte Marie! how may this be, That Dainyan entendeth, nat to me? 1900 s he aysyk, or how may this bityde?" His squieres, whiche that stooden ther bisyde, Excused,hym by cause of his siknesse, Which letted hym to doon his bisynesse; 1904 Noon 'OOther cause myghte make hym tarye "That me forthynketh;" quod this Januarie, "He is a gentil squier, by my trouthe! f that he deyde, it were harm and routhe He is as wys, discreet, and as,secree As any man woot of his degree, 1910 And therto manly, and, eek servysable, And for to been a thrifty man right able -) But after mete, as sooneas evere 1 may, wol myself visite hym, and eekmay', To doon hym al the confort that kan:'' " 1915 And for that word hyrn -blessed every"man; " That of his bountee and his gentillesse', He wolde so conforten' in siknesse His squier, for it was a gentil dede{;; 1919 " Dame," quod this Januarie, ':taak good hede, 1879 pe:nner: writing case, with pen ana mc 1881 compleynt: poetic lament (for examples sec the Short Poems) lay: song 1883 he ng: which hung The moon Wa5 in the second degree of the zodiacal sign of Taurus and has now moved ideo the sign of Cancer 1893 compleet: completed,,_ 1900 entendeth oat to: does not"'anend, wait o'n ' 1906 'that me forthyoketh: chat grieves me, ain so{ry 1909 secree: discreet " '" 1911 servysable: willing to serve, attentive 1912 thrifty: proper, successful,,', bountee: goodness At after-mete ye with youre wommen alle, Whan ye han been in chambte out of this halle, That alle ye go se this Damyan Dooth hym disport - he is a gentil man; And telleth hym that l" wol hym visite, 1925 Have no thyng but rested me a lite; And spede yow faste, fo1' wole' abyde' Til that ye slepe"faste 'bymy syde" And with that word he gan to hym to calle A squier, that was marchal of his halle, 1930 And tolde hym certeyrr thynges, what he wolde This fresshe May hath streight hit wey ' yholde With alle hir wommen unto,damyan Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, Confortynge hym as' goodly as she may 1935 This Damyan, whan that his tyme he say, n secree wise his purs and eek his bille, \ n which that he,ywriten hadde his wille; Hath put'into' hire hand, withouten moore,, Save that he siketh wonder depe and soore, And softely 'to' hire right thus seyde he: 1941 "Mercy! rand that ye nat discovere me, ~ For 'am deed if that,this thyng be kyd : ~ This purs hath :she inwith hir bosom hyd And,wente hire wey; ye' gete namoore"o[, me But unto Januarie ycomen is she; ' 1946 That on his beddes syde,sidulsofte ;": He taketh-hire, and 'kisseth hire ful ofte,, And leyde hym 'doun"to' slepe, and'lthat-,imon; : She feyned hire as that she moste gon 1950 Ther as/ ye woot that every wighi moot neede; And whan she ofthis bille nath taken, heede, She rente'it al to cloutes atte laste, And in the pryvee softely it caste Who-studieth now but faire fresshe,:may? Adoun by oldejanuarieshe hiy, 1956 That sleep ill that the coughe: hath'hyrri>: awaked c,'' i Anon he preyde, hire' Strepen' hire' al naked; He wolde of hire, he' seyde, han soffi plesaunce; He seyde hir clothes dide hym encombraunce, And she obeyeth, be hire lief or looth 1961 But lest that precious folk be with me wrooth, How that he wroghte, dar nat to yow 'telle, 1921 after mete: the time after dinner 1926 Have no thyng but: when have merely 1930 macdull: master o( ceremonies (cf t ) 1936 say: saw '' 1937 bille: letter ' 19~3 kyd: Known "' 1953 doutes: mtters -, 1960 dide hym encombraunce: got -in his way 1962 precious: fastidious, prudish ' -f Or wheither hire thoughte it paradys or helle But heere lete hem werken in hir wyse' 1965 Til evensong rong and that they moste aryse, Were it by destynee'or by aventure, Were it by influence or by 'nature, Or constellacion, that in swich estaat The hevene stood that tyme fortunaat 1970 Was for,to putte abille of Venus werkes For alle thyng hath tyme, as seyn thise clerkes- To any womman for- to gete hire love, kan nat seye; but gretegod above, That knoweth that noon act is causelees, 1975 He deme of al, for wole holde my pees But sooth is this, how that'this fresshe May Hath' takeswich impression that day Of pitee of this sike Damyan That from hireherte she ne dryve kan 1980 The remembrance for to doon,pyrrt ese "Certeyn," thoghte she, " whom thilt this thyng displese rekke noght, for heere hym assure To love hym best ofany creature, 1984 Though he namoore hadde than his sherte" Lo, pitee renneth soone in gentil herte! Heere may ye se how excellent franchise n wommen is, whan they hem narwe avyse Som tyrant is, as ther be many 000 That hath an herte as hard as any st06n, 1990 Which wolde han lat hym sterven in the place Wel rather than han graunted hym hire grace, And hem rejoysen in 'hire crueel pryde, And rekke nat to been'an homycide, This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee, 1995 Right of hire"hand a lerne made she, n which she graunteth,hym hire 'verraygrace Ther lakketh noght oonly but day, and place Wher that she myghte untohis lust 'suffise,: For it sha be right,as he wole devyse 2000 And whan she saugh hir tyme, upon,a day To visite this Damyangooth,May, And sotilly this lettre doun she threste' Under his pilwe; rede it if hym leste She taketh hym by the hand and harde hym twiste influence: power (transmitted by rays from heavenly bodies) ' 1969 constellacion: configuration of the heavenly bodies 1971 putte a bille: present a petition" He deine: may he ;\ldge ~:~ ~:':C~!~:~~~:~o:it:i~fullY 1999 unto his lust suffise: satisfy his desires j Otilly: craftily threne: thrust" 200<1 pilwe: pillow ~;' So secrely that no wight of it wiste, And bad hym been al hool, and forth she wente To Januarie, whan that he for hire sente Up riseth Damyan the nexte morwe; Al passed was his siknesse and his sorwe 2010 He kembeth hym, he preyneth hym and pyketh, He dooth,al that his lady lust and yketh, And eek to Januarie he gooth as lowe As evere dide a dogge' for the bowe He is so plesant unto every man 2015 (For craft is ai, whoso that do it kan) That every wight is fayn to speke hym good, And fully in his lady grace he stood, Thus lete Damyan aboute his nede, And in my tale forth wol procede 2020 Somme clerkes holden that felicitee Stant in delit, and therfore certeyn he, This noble Januarie, with al his myght, n honest wyse, as longeth to a knyght, Shoop hym to yve ful deliciously 2025 His housynge, his array, as honestly To his degree was maked as a kynges Amonges othere of his honeste thynges, He made a gardyn, walled al with stoon; So fair a gardyn woot nowher noon 2030 For, out ofdoute, 1 verraily suppose That he that wroot the Romance of the Rose Ne koude of it the beautee wel devyse; Ne Priapus ne myghte nat suffise, Though he be god of gardyns, for to telle 2035 The beautee of the gardyn and the welle That stood under a aurer alwey grene Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene, Proserpina, and al hire fayerye, Disporten hem and maken melodye 2040 Aboute that welle,o and daunced, as men tolde This noble knyght, this Januarie the olde; Swich deyntee hath init'to-'walke and pleye, That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye Save he hymself; for of the smale wyket 2045 He baar alwey of silver a clyket, With which, whan that' hym leste, he it unshette 2011 kembeth: combs pceyneth hym: preens himself, makes himself neat pyketh: cleans adorns 2013 lowe: humbly 201 <1 dogge for tbe bowe: dog trained CO hunt with an archer 202<1 bonest: hon o rabl~, respectable 2025 deliciowly: volupruously 2032 he: Guillaume de Lorris (cf Rom ) 203 Priapus: a phallic god (cf PF 2B-59) Pluto, Prosecpina: king and queen of the underworld 2043 d eyotee nath: takes pleasure 2045 wyket: wicket gate 2~ dyket: latchkey 2()<17 uoshette: unlocked

7 164 THE CANTERBURY TALES [V le) V' E) ] THE MERCHANT'S TALE 165 And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette n somer seson, thider wolde he go, 20~9 And May his wyf, and no wight but they two; And thynges whiche that were nat doon abedde, He in the gardyn parfourned hem and spedde And in this wyse, many a murye day, Lyved this Januarie and fresshe May; But worldly joye may nat alwey dure 2055 To Januarie, ne to no creature o sodeyn hap! 0 thou Fortune unstable! Lyk to the scorpion so deceyvable, That flaterest with thyn heed whan thou wolt stynge; Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenymynge o brotil joye! 0 sweete venym queynte! 2061 o monstre, that so subtily kanst peynte Thy yiftes under hewe of stidefastnesse, That thou deceyvest bothe moore and lesse! Why hastow Januarie thus deceyved, 2065 That haddest hym for thy fule freend receyved? And now thou hast biraft hym bothe his yen, For sorwe of which desireth he to dyen Alas, this noblejanuarie free, Amydde his lust and his prosperitee, 2070 s woxen blynd, and that al sodeynly He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; And therwithal the fyr of "jalousie, Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som folye, So brente his herte that he wolde fayn 2075 That som man bothe hire and hym had slayn For neither after his deeth nor in his yf Ne wolde he that she were' love ne wyf, But evere yve as wydwe,in clothes blake, Soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make 2080 But atte laste, after a month or tweye, His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; For whan he wiste it may noon oother be, He paciently took his adversitee, Save, out of doute, he may nat forgoon 2085 That he nas jalous everemoore in oon; Which jalousye it was so outrageous That neither in halle, n'yn noon oother hous, Ne in noon oother place, neverthemo, He nolde suffre hire for to ryde or go, dcnc: marital debt (obligation to engage in intercourse) 2057 hap: chance 2061 beoth: uncenain 2062 peyote: disguise 2063 hewe: pretense 2080 Soul: solitary turtle: turtledove 2085 Save: except cllj t forgoon That he nas: ie, refeain from being 2081 outrageous: excessive 2089 neverthemo: no longer But if that he had hond on hire alway; For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May, That loveth Damyan so benyngnely, That she moot outher dyen sodeynly Or eles she moot han hym as hir leste 2095 She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste D pon that oother syde Damyan Bicomen is the sorwefuleste man That evere was, for neither nyght ne day Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May, As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, 2101 But if that Januarie mosteit heere, That hadde an hand upon hire everemo But natheees, by writyng to and fro And privee signes wiste he what she mente, And she knew eek the fyn of his entente 2106 o Januarie, what myghte it thee availe, Thogh thou myghtest se as fer as shippes saille? For as good is blynd deceyved be As to be deceyved whan a man may se 2110 Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondted yen, For al that evere he koude poure or pryen, Yet was he blent, and, God WOot, so been mo That wenen wisly that it be nat so Passe over is an ese; sey namoore 2115 This fresshe May, that spak of so yoore, n warm wex hath emprented the clyket That Januarie bar of the smale wyket, By which into his gardyn ofte he wente' And Damyan, that knew al hire entente: 2120 The cliket countrefeted pryvely Ther nys namoore to seye, but hastily Som wonder by this clyket shal'bityde, Which ye shul heeren;jf ye wole abyde 2124 o noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, God WOot, What sleighte is it; thogh it be long and hoot, That Love nyl fynde it out in som,manere? By Piramus and Tesbee may men leere; Thogh they were kept fullonge streite'overal, They been accorded, rownynge thurgh'a wal, Ther no wight koude han founde out swich a sleighte waytcth: expects (the time) 2111 Acgus: mythical guardian of poure: l~k: intently poce pryen: gaze, see 2113 blent: J>hnded deceived 211 wenen wisly: confidently suppose believe 2115 Passe over 15 an ese: to overlook is an advantag;e (what you don't know won't hun you) 2117 empreote:d the cjyket: made an impression of the key 2118 wyket:'wlcket gate 2125 Ovyde: Ovid 2126 sleighte: uick ~~~:;3"mu, and To,beo: Pyramw and Tbi,be; see lljw 2129 streite: suictiy 2130 rowoynge: whispering But now to purpos: er that dayes eighte Were passed [of] the month of [Jllyn], bifil That Januarie hath,caught so greet a~ wil, 213~ Thurgh eggyng of his wyf, hym for to pleye n his gardyn, and no wight but they tweye, That in a morwe unto his May seith he: " Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free! The turtles voys is herd, my dowve sweete; The wynter 'is goon with allehis reynes weete 2UO Corn forth now, with thyne eyen columbyn! How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn! The gardyn is enclosed al aboute; Corn forth, my white spouse! Out of doute Thou hast me wounded in myn hene, 0 wyf! No spot of thee ne knew al my yf 2146 Corn forth, and lat us taken,oure disport; chees thee for' my wyf and my confort" Swiche olde lewed wordes used he On Damyan a signe made she, 2150 That he sholde go biforn with his cliket This Damyan thanne hath opened the wyket, And in he stirte, and that in swich manere That no wight myghte it se neither yheere, C And stile he sit under a bussh anon 2155 This Januarie, as blynd as is a stoon, With Mayus in his hand, and no wight mo, nto his fresshe gardyn is ago, And clapte to the wyket sodeynly " Now wyf," quod' he, "heere nys but thou and, ' 2160 That art the crearure that 1'- best love For by that Lord that sit in hevene above, Levere ich haddeto dyen on a knyf Than thee offende, trewe deere wyf! For Goddes sake, thenk how thee chees, 2165 Noght for no coveitise, doutelees, But oonly fpr the love had to thee And though that be oold and may nat see, Beth to me trewe, and wol telle yow why Thre thynges, certes, shal ye wynne therby: First, love of Crist, and to yourese!f honour, And al myn heritage, toun and tour; 2172 yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow leste; This shal be doon to-morwe er sonrie reste, So wisly God my soule brynge in blisse 2175 prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse; On or shonly before June 8 ~~~ ~~fj~t:y~:c~~~ei~ke 2150 On: to 2166 coveitise: greed 2173 chartres: conuacu deeds 2176 in covenant: (() seal the conuact And though that be jalous, wyte me noght Ye been so depe enprented in my thoght That, whan that considere youre beau tee And therwithal the unlikly elde of me, 2180 may nat, certes, though sholde dye, Forbere to been out of youre compaignye For verray love; this' is withouten doute Now kys me, wyf; and lat us rome aboute, " This fresshe May; whan she thise wordes herde, 2185 Benyngne!y to Januarie answerde, But first and forward she bigan to wepe " have," quod she, "a saule for to kepe As wet as ye, and also myn honour, And of my wyfhod thilke tendre flour,' 2190 Which that have' assured in youre hond, Whan that the preest to yow my body bond; Wherfore wole answere in this manere, By the leve of yow, my lord so deere: prey to God that nevere dawe the 'day 2195 That ne steeve, as foule as womman may, f evere 'do unto my kyn that shame, Or elles empeyre so my' name, That ' be fals; and if do that lak, Do strepe me and put me in a sak, 2200 And in the nexte ryver do me drenche am a gentil womman an'd no wenche Why speke ye thus? But men been evere untrewe, And wommen have repreve of yow ay newe Ye han noon oother contenance, leeve, 2205 But speke to us of un trust and repreeve" And with that word she saugh wher Damyan Sat in the bussh, and coughen she bigan, And with hir fyngersignes made she That Damyan sholde clymbe upon a tree 2210 That charged was with fruyt, and up he wente For verraily he knew al hire entente, And every signe that she koude make, We! bet than Januarie, hir owene make, For in a lettre she hadde toold hym al 2215 Of this matere, how he werchen shal And thus lete hym sitte upon the pyrie, And Januarie and May romynge myrie Bright was the day, and blew the firmament; Phebus hath of gold his stremes doun ysent 2177 wyte: blame 2180 unlikly: unsuitable 2187 first and forward: first of ab 2191 assured: entrusted 2198 empeyre: damage 2199 do that lak: commit that offence 2201 do me drenche: have me drowned 22Q4 ay newe: always 2205 cootenance: manner of behavior 2206 But: except untrust: distrun rep reeve: reproof pyric: pear uee

8 166 THE CANTERBURY TALES [V le) V le) J THE MERCHANT'S TALE 167 To gladenevery flourwith his warmnesse 2221 He was that tyme in Geminis, as - gesse, But litel fro his decynacion ", ' Of Cancer, Jovis exaltacion And so bifel, that brightemorwe-tyde, 2225 That in that gardyn, in the ferthersyde, Pluto, that is kyng of Fayerye,, And many a lady in his compaignye, Folwynge his wyf, the queene Proserpyna, Which that he ravysshed out of [Ethna] 2230 Whil that she gadered floures in the mede n Claudyan ye may the stories rede, How in his grisely carte he"hire fette- This kyng olfairye thanne adounhym sette Upon a bench of curves, fressh and grene, 2235 And right anon thus seyde"he to' his queene ~: "My wyf," quod he, " ther may:no wight sey'e nay; Th'experience so preveth every day ' 0' The tresons whiche that worn men doon to man Ten hondred thousand[ tales] tellen kan Notable of "you re untrouthe and brotilnesse o Salomon, wys, and richest of richesse, ~ 2242 Fulfild of sapience and df worldly glorie, Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie To every wight that wit and resqn kan 2245 Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man: 'Amonges a thousand men yet foond' oon, But of wommen alle foond noon" "Thus seith the ~yng that knoweth youre wikkednesse "' "1 And Jhesus,-filius Syrak;,as gesse, r 2250 Nespeketh of yow but 'seelde reverence A wylde fyr and corrupt, pestilence ;:, ' So falle upon youre bodyes yet to-nyght! "" Ne se ye nat this honuiable,knyght, 2254 By cause, alas, that he isblynd and,p ld, His owe ne man"shal make hym cokewold Lo, where,he sit, the lechour, in the tree! Now wol graunten, of my magestee, UntO this olde, blynde, worthy knyght That he shal have ayen his eyen syght, ' 2260 Whan that his wyf wold ' doon hym vileynjo'e The sun ~ as in the sign ',of Gemini (Gtm in ~J,> not far from th'e summer solstice, after which,the sun begins to 'decline in its apparent altitude (his dtdynacion); this is at the beginning of Cancer, the sign in which Jupiter exeru its greatest influence (Jovi/ txaltarion) 2230 Ethna: Mt Ema,' 2232 Claudyan: Claud ian, aumor of the Rapt 0/ Protr;pina 223!i curves: pieces of turf 224' brodlnesse: frailty, fickleness 2242 Salomon: Solomon " Jhcsus, filius Sycak: author o f Err/u iajliwj 2251 seelde: seldom -' 2252 wylde fyr: erysipelas, an acute inflammation of the skin : corrupt: infectious Thanne shal he knowen a hire harlotrye, Bothe ij;l repreve of hire and othere mo" "Yeshal?': quod:proserpyne, "wol ye so?, Now by my moodres sires soule swere 2265 That ' shal yeveri hire suflisant answere, And alle,wommenafter, for hir sake, That, though' they be,in any giltytake, With face boold they shulle hemself excuse, And bere hem doun that wolden hem accuse For lak of answere noon of hem shal dyen 2271 A hadde man,seyn a thyng with bothe his yen, Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily, And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly, So that ye men shul been as lewed as gees 2275 " What rekketh me ;of youre aucioritees? - wbot we that this Jew, this Salomon, ' Foond of us wommen fooles-many oon But thoughthat he'ne foond no good womman, Yet hath ther founde manyoanother man 2280 Wommen ful tewe, ful goode,- and vercuous Witnesse on hemthat dwelle in 'Cristes hous; With martirdom theypreved hireconstance The Romayn geestes eek make remembrance Of many a verray, trewe wycalso,, 2285 But, sire, ne be nat wrooth, al be it so, Though that he seyde he foond no good womman, prey yow take the':sentence-oftheman; He mente thus, thinin sovereyn bontee Nis noon but God,but-neither he ne she 2290 ''Ey! for verray God that nys but oon, What make ye somuche of Salomon? What though he :liade a temple, Goddes hous? What though,he were rithe andglorious? So made he eekit temple of false goddis 2295 How myghte he;do a thyng that moore for " bode is? Pardee, as faire as' ye his Jlame emplastre, He was a lecchour:,and an ydolastre, And in his elde heverray God forsook; And if God ne hadde, as seith the book, 2300 Yspared him,for his fadres sake, he sholde Have lost his regne rather than he wolde sette tight noghti of a the vileynye That ye olwommen write, a boterflye! 2262 harlot~~ : wicked~e;s ' 2265 my mood res sires soule: the soul of Sacurn, father of Ceres 2273 visage it hardily: face it OUt boldly 228'" Romayn geestes: Roman history make remembrance: remind '~':'~ 2289 sovereyn bontee: perfect goodness 2290 he ne she: man nor woman,,,; _",,'" ~~~ ;d!j~~~~ : id~f~ie~ medicinal plaster (ie, 8o55 ~7~e r ')_' 2302 rather: sooner i ' am a womman, n-edes moot speke, 2305 Or elles swelle til myn herte breke For si then he seyde that we been jangleresses, As evere hool moote brquke my tresses, shal nat spare, for no curteisye, 2309 To speke hym harm that wolde us vileynye" "Dame," quod this Piuto, "be no lenger wrooth ; yeve it up! Bupith swoor myn ooth That wolde graunten hym his sighte ageyn, My word shal stonde, wame yow certeyn am a kyng; it sit me noght to lye" 2315 "And," quod she, "a queene of Fayerye! Hir answere 'shal she have; undertake Lat us namoore wordes heerof make; For sothe, wi>1 no ienger yow!=oncrarie" Now lat us cutne agayn to Januarie, 2320 That in the gardyn with his faire May Syngeth ful murier than the papejay, " Yow love best, and shal, and oother noon" So longe aboute the a1eyes is he goon, Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie 2325 Where as this Damyan sitteth ful myrie An heigh among the: fresshe leve~ grene This fresshe May, that is so bright and sheene, Gan for to syke, and seyde, " Alias, my syde! Now sire," quod she, "for aught that may bityde, 2330 moste han of the peres that- see, Or moot dye, so soore longeth me To eten of the smale peres grene, Help, for hir love' that is of hevene queene! - telle yow wel, a:,womman in my plit May han to fruyt so greet an appetit That she may dyen but she of it have" "Alias," quod he, "that ne had heer a knave That koude c1ymbe! Alias, alas," qubd he, "For am blynd!" "Ye, sire, no fors," quod she; 2340 "But wolde ye vouche sauf, for Goddes sake, The pyrie inwith youre armes for to take, For wel woot that ye mystruste me, Thanne sholde c1ymbe wel ynogh," quod she, "So my foot myghte sette upon youre bak" jangleresses: chattering women ~~~ ~~o!k~'t:::l t:ui~~befi:ain alive (literally, mjdy my hair) 2319 contrarie: contradict 2322 papejay: parrot 232" aleyes: alleys, garden paths 2325 agaynes: in front of pyrie: pear tree 2331 peres: pears 2335 plit: condition "Certes," quod he, "theron shal be no lak, Mighte yow helpen with myn herte blood" He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she stood, And caughte hire by a twiste, and up she gooth - Ladyes, prey yow that ye be nat wrooth; kan nat glose, am a rude man And sodeynly anon this Damyan Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng And whan that Pluto saugh this grete wrong, To Januarie he gaf agayn his sighte, 2355 And made hym se as wel as evere he myghte And whan that he hadde caught his sighte agayn, Ne was ther nevere man of thyng so fayn, But on his wyf his thoght was everemo Up to th~ tree he caste his eyen two, 2360 And saugh that Damyan his wyf had dressed n swich manere it may nat been expressed, But if wolde speke uncurteisly; And up he yaf a roryng and a cry, 2364 As dooth the mooder whan the child shal dye: "Out! Help! Alias! Harrow!" he gan to crye, "0 stronge lady stoore, what dostow?" And sqe answerde, "Sire, what eyleth yow? Have pacience and resoun in youre mynde have yow holpe on bothe youre eyen blynde Up peril of my soule, shal nat yen, 2371 As me was taught, to heele with youre eyen, Was no thyng bet, to make yow to see, Than strugle with a man upon a tree God woot, dide it in ful good entente" 2375 "Strugle?" quod he, "Ye, algatecin it wente! God yeve yow bothe on 'shames deth to dyen! He swyved thee; saugh it with myne yen, And elles be - hanged by the hals!!' "Thanne is," quod she, "my medicyne fals; For certeinly, if that ye myghte se, 2381 Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes unto me Ye han som glymsyng, and no parfit sighte" " se," quod he, "as wel as evere myghte, Thonked be God! With bothe my ne eyen two, And by my trouthe, 'me thoughte he dide thee so" 2386 " Ye maze, maze, goode sire," quod she; "This thank have for have maad yow see 23 9 twiste: branch 2351 glose: use circumlocutions 2353 throng: thrust 2361 dressed: treated 2363 uncurteisly: crudely 2366 Harrow!: help! 2367 stronge lady stoore: bold, crude woman 2370 bolpe: help«! 2378 swyved: copulated with 2379 hals: neck 2383 glymsyng: glimpse 2387 maze: are bewildered, dazed

9 168 THE CANTERBURY TALES Alias," quod she, "that evere was so kynde!" "Now; dame," quod he, ~ 'lat al passe out of mynde 2390 Corn doun, my lief, and if t have myssayd, God helpe me so, as' am yvele apayd But, by my fader soule, wende han seyn How that this Damyan hadde by thee leyn, And that thy smok hadde leyn upon his brest" 2395 "Ye, sire," quod she, "ye may wene as yow lest But, sire, a man that waketh out of his sleep, He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep Upon a thyng, ne seen it parfitly, Til that he be ad awed verraily 2400 Right so a man that longe hath blynd ybe, Ne may nat sodeynly so wel yse, [V le) First whan his sighte is newe come ageyn,' As he that hath' a day or rwo yseyn Til that"youre sighte"ysatled' be a while 2405 Ther may ful 'many a' sighteyow'bigile;' Beth war, prey yow; for by hevene kyng, Ful many a' man weneth 'to seen a thyng; And it is al,another than it semeth He that mysconceyveth, hemysdemeth:" 2410 And with that word', she leep dduh fro the tree This ]a:nuarie, 'who;is glild;:but he? ", He kisseth hire aria clippeth hire Ul ofte; And on hire wombe he' stroketh hire ful'softe, And to!his palays"'l!oom he hath hire lad W5 Now, goode men, pray yow to-be glad- Thus endeth, heere my tale: of Januarie; God blesse Us, ana his' moooerseinte Marie! Heere is ended the Marchantes Tale of Januarie: EPLOGUE TO THE MERCHANT'S TAtE ' ' " Ey! Goddes mercy!" seyde oure Hooste tho, "Now swich a wyf pray God kepe me fro! Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees 242) n worn men been! For ay as bisy as bees Been they, us sely men for to deceyve, And from the soothe evere wol they weyve; By this Marchauntes tale i~ preveth w,eel 2425 But doutelees, as trewe as any steel have a wyf, though that she povre be, But of hir tonge, a labbyng shrewe is she, And yet she hath an heep of vices mo; Therof no fors! Lat alle swiche thyngesgo 2430 But wyte ye what? n conseil be it seyd, Me reweth soore J am llnto hire teyd For and ' sholde rekenen every vice Which that she hath, ywis were to nyce - And cause -why? t- shplde reported be c 2435 And toold to hire of sommeofthis meynee-' Of whom, it nedeth na,t for to-declare, Syn worn men konnen outen_swich chaffa,re; And eek lw wit,suffiseth 'nat therto To tellen al; wherfore my tale is do wende han seyn: thought to have seen, thought 'saw 2400 adawed vercaily: fully awakencd 2402 yse: see 2424 weyve: devia[c 2428 labbyng: blabbing 205 ysaded: settled 2409 al umher: completely otherwise 2410 mysconceyveth: misapprehends, misunderstands mysdemeth: misj udges 2413 clippcth: em~races 2431 n conseil: confidcmially 2432 Me rewcth: repent tcyd: tied and: if meynee: company 2438 oueen: display chaffare: wares